Folk singer-songwriter Dan Pallotta has a delicate and hopeful new single to share entitled “Kendra’s Pictures.” The Kendra in question was a neighbour of Pallotta’s who “took the most beautiful landscape and nature photographs that were filled with light.”
The song features a gently rolling melody which seeks to transmit a feeling of light and of beauty that transcends mortality. Pallotta took many approaches to the song’s production, experimenting with synthesizers, piano, and upright bass.
“It was when we asked Marc Muller to try a lap steel that it all came together. It gave the song an other-worldly feeling that the story was calling for. It was big without suffocating the negative space we needed for the lyrics to come through.” – Dan Pallotta
American philanthropist and musician Dan Pallotta has been writing songs for forty years, but took about a thirty-year break in the middle to create the AIDSRides, the Breast Cancer 3-Day walks, and the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention walks. 182,000 people took part in one of these epic, heroic journeys, which raised nearly $600 million in nine years—more money raised more quickly for those causes than any events in history, and were the subject of a Harvard Business School case study. In September 2022, the Stephen Gyllenhaal directed documentary film adaption of Pallotta’s book, Uncharitable, was released, which advocates for liberating the nonprofit sector to its true potential. It features Edward Norton, and the heads of TED, the Ford Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Charity:Water and many other organizations.
Pallotta’s TED talk on charity is the 16th most commented TED talk of all time. He has written five books, served on two school boards, sang the national anthem at a Los Angeles Rams game, and did not forget the words!
Pallotta’s music and his commitment to making a difference in the world are inseparable. He tries to write songs about the human condition, as experienced by all kinds of human beings across all manners of circumstance, and songs about the possibility of a world that could work for everyone.
Ray Levier is a multi faceted drummer, composer, and music producer, and has once again captivated audiences with the release of his new music video for “Uncharted Destiny.”
Known for his precision and versatility across jazz fusion, rock, hip-hop, and singer-songwriter styles, Ray’s latest offering shows unique vision and real artistic creativity.
Inspired by the story of a retired Air Force commander who, after narrowly surviving a near-fatal test flight crash, undergoes a biochemical fusion with an alien spacecraft called “Uncharted Destiny”. The commander’s transformation leads to an epic journey that reveals his true identity and connects him with an alien civilization at the edge of the universe, reflecting Ray’s own exploration of new beginnings and the interconnections of life.
The music video is truly epic and one of a kind, taking viewers far beyond the usual music video sphere into an experience that is completely out of this world. Ethereal and imbued with a spiritual component, it challenges viewers to contemplate what else could be out there in the vastness of the universe.
Created by Ray Levier, with sound design by Ray Levier, Frani Lugo, Mike Dwyer, and Leslie Bloome, the cast features Ray Levier as Commander Ray, David Kopec as Brass, Frani Lugo as Tech, and Zenji the Dog as himself. The musicians include Ray Levier on drums, vibraphones, keyboard synthesizers, lead and backing vocals, Richard Tozzoli on guitars and E-harp, and Tim Lefebvre on bass.
The Audio production was done by RSL Production Studio, The Clubhouse, and Alchemy Post Sound, with audio mix by Mike Dwyer and Neil Dorfsman. Conceptual and environmental design was handled by Frani Lugo and Ray Levier, while cinematography, CGI, graphics, editing, storyboarding, and illustrations were all done by Frani Lugo.
The official video for “Unchartered Destiny” by Ray Levier is now available on Ray’s official YouTube Channel HERE:
We caught up with Ray to talk about the music video to accompany this brand new single release!
1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
I came up with the concept during Covid when everybody was sheltering in place and it seemed such a lonely time for me and so many others. It kept reminding me of the loneliness and emptiness of space and being alone for extended periods of time without anyone around. The positive side of the story reflects my accident and that there is always hope after a tragedy.
Just when you think you’re at Rock bottom and your life is over then something magical and beautiful appears unexpectedly. This is always been my thought process to stay positive after my accident being burned in a fire at a young age.
Turning tragedy into triumph, is something I knew I must do if I wanted to heal and be healthy as an individual to keep my spirit intact.
2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
The inspiration of this video comes from a story I wrote about a man who is part alien but doesn’t realize it until the end of the video.
He is summoned to the other end of the galaxy to take his place as ruler of an alien civilization. There’s a whole backstory I’m working on with a screenplay that explains the journey in greater detail. So stay tuned for that.
3. What was the process of making this video?
The process of making this video was done with CGI (computer generated imagery) and shooting video with a green screen. We would shoot with green screen, then add all the CGI later to create the scene. Frani Lugo is the genius behind taking all my ideas and bringing them to life through this process.
It took us almost 3 years to create this as he was just one man taking on this monumental task. Normally there’s hundreds of people creating individual scenes working within the CGI realm. He pulled it off with amazing skill. He created everything you see on screen. There was no AI used in any of this. Just pure artistic genius on his part.
I hope the viewers enjoy the video and can take something away from it in regards to their own personal journey.
Feez Da Popstar, the vibrant alter-ego of DJ Jay Faire, is back to set the summer on fire with his latest hit, “It’s the Summer”!
From the energetic streets of New York’s 914 area code, Feez Da Popstar has transitioned from an acclaimed DJ to electrifying performer, blending hip hop and EDM pop into an irresistible mix.
Check out the new single here:
“It’s the Summer” is a perfect seasonal anthem, bursting with infectious beats and energy. The single shows Feez Da Popstar’s impressive range and his talent for creating tunes that take off on a global scale. With catchy hooks and driving rhythms, “It’s the Summer” invites everyone to bask in the carefree joy of sun filled days and endless summer nights.
It’s fun, joyful, and reminds us to relax and enjoy every minute we have.
Feez Da Popstar’s rise to prominence has been boosted by collaborations with top industry names like Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Tiesto, solidifying his status as a major player in the music scene. His previous hits, “Fly Away” and “Take Me Home” have gained a widespread acclaim.
Starting out as a DJ crafting mixtapes in the heart of NYC, Feez Da Popstar gained global exposure by infusing fun into my sets. Traveling worldwide, he witnessed firsthand how his music ignited the club atmosphere, sparking a desire to create his own music:
“It became clear that to convey emotions through music, I had to step into the spotlight as an artist.”
Thus, Feez Da Popstar was born—an alter ego dedicated to channeling his passion into creating vibrant, unforgettable music experiences:
“Seeing the clubs react to my sets and the music I would play led to me wanting to actually create music for others. After that I realized in order to translate what I felt in music I had to make and create and be the artist myself.”
This track is already making waves and is set to become a staple on party playlists and summer soundtracks.
Feez Da Popstar’s unique fusion of hip hop and EDM pop results in a sound that’s both captivating and irresistible, ensuring listeners will be dancing and singing along all season long!
Swaying between the punchiness of modern rock and the nostalgic tones of ’90s alternative, June Body‘s rawness and forthright lyrical delivery throws back to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and The Weakerthans. “Agree to Stop” from their new album, Last Everythings, is about songwriter Connor James’ seven-year relationship coming to an end. Even though he and his partner were both still in love with each other, there was this pervasive feeling of understanding that the end was what was right for both of them. It was such a difficult experience to have to agree that they’d be better apart.
“I was constantly imagining the end of my relationship leading up to it actually happening,” says songwriter Connor James. “I had this idea of ‘fast-forwarding a tape’ as spoiling the events that would occur on the night of a breakup. It was almost as if I was numbed to the emotions of that night because I had been manifesting and visualizing it for so long.”
Gwyn Love (they/them) is the first-ever American artist signed to Vancouver-based 604 Records. Together, with multi-platinum producer and composer, La+ch (best known for the certified 4x Platinum hit “2 Heads” with Coleman Hell), they’ve crafted an upbeat, feel-good track for the summer, “happy 2 b here.”
“happy 2 b here represents moving from Oklahoma to LA perfectly to me,” Gwyn explains. “It combines the two vibes whilst having a little splash of country with a dance-y beach track. This is the first song I wrote after moving to LA and it means a lot to me because it shows how much I’ve grown over the years in music. So excited to finally share this one with the world!”
Born into a conservative family with eight siblings, and growing up in small-town Oklahoma, Gwyn Love was introduced to music at a young age; picking up the cello at age 5 and writing their first song at 11. Over the past decade, their sound has continued to evolve — blending what the artist describes as a punk mentality with an electronic-pop vibe. As a creative deeply invested in every aspect of their sound, drawing mainly from their own life experience, Gwyn maintains that they are hardly ever at a loss for words when it comes to songwriting — musical motivation and vision are always priority one.
La+ch has produced records for a wide variety of other artists in addition to his continued work with Coleman Hell. His discography includes production credits for electro-pop outfit Dragonette, Toronto hip-hop artist Shan Vincent de Paul, and rising indie-pop songstress Emily Rowed. La+ch also produces and mixes his solo work, including his critically acclaimed debut album, +, which has amassed over 35 million streams on Spotify.
Custie is an emerging artist from London, Ontario whose distinct sound explores pop music as it intersects between singer-songwriter, R&B and alternative. “E, pt. 2” is largely a continuation of his previous single, “ON E, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN,” balancing the heaviness with softness.
“‘E, pt. 2’ was born from a period of slow-focus after I recorded ‘ON E, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.’ The follow-up both literally and figuratively achieved some distance from the themes that haunted me. I was in the mud of the friendship, doing snow angels in the glass shards. As a counterpart, ‘E, pt. 2’ is sadder, but a lot more dream-like. You don’t have to succumb to the sadness, or face it, because it’s constantly weaving different emotions and, intentionally, creating some formless tapestry of Experience.” —Custie
100% of profits from “ON E, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN” are being donated to MINDS, an initiative local to him for youth struggling with mental health and addiction
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